Exploring is Learning
About Us
Initially our main focus was on young men from absent-father-homes. It still is an area we concentrate on, but, this has evolved to the child who was removed from their home because of endangerment, neglect and child trafficking.
These children have lived through the worst trauma and often has no voice or dignity and very little trust in adults. We encourage a sense of relaxed well being, of exploration and discussion. The people who support us are all volunteers, social workers, school teachers and mentors who give their time to the children from the Child and Youth Care Centers (CYCC) in South Africa. These children often don't experience family environments, and they don't have outside stimulation as they are in an institution everyday. Though their stay is supposed to be short at the CYCC's, it is dependent on suitable placement, which often does not happen.
We endeavor to give to these marginalize children and teens the best possible opportunity to develop themselves in positive ways.
Board
Ben Hector
Chairman
Ben is a Dad to four and a Father to many. He has almost three decades experience as a DJ. After studying Electronics in the eighties, he built his decks and amps to start a career. At a time when South Africa was cut off through sanctions of such equipment, he made the best of his education and became a professional DJ. Landing lucrative gigs locally and later abroad. Because music lead him out of the poverty of his council estate built by the former Apartheid regime, he is impassioned to continue healing the wounds that the current generation has from absentee fathers. He also had a career as a Financial Advisor for the Old Mutual Insurance company and at 26 was the top sales person in the country. Family, music, sport... these are the mechanisms that engage the youth, and then the application of coaching and mentorship into education, dedication and spirituality is how he gives them their freedom to break from poverty.
Quaid Jantjies
Active Member
Quaid became a part of Ben's family in his teens. There was a natural progression from acquaintance to now a member of the Ben Your Friend Foundation Team. He is involved with all manner of event organizing and mentors young men.
Corentin Joutang
Non-Active Member
Corentin met Ben Hector in 2014 when he came to Cape Town for a volunteer program. This experience changed his life, and he now wants to set up projects that could allow other people to have the same opportunity. Corentin holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics from the Grenoble Alpes University and is convinces that education if one of the key areas in fostering the development of a society and a country. That is why in 2018 he created a popular education association called Cap sur Lyon, which aims to organize and finance education projects. One of the main goals of the association is to establish a link between France and South Africa through the creation of international projects and fund-raising campaigns. With this objective, Ben Hector came to France in 2019 to present the Ben Your Friend Youth Foundation to the members of the association and to the French Public in order to raise awareness about the need for the project and the current situation in South Africa.
Axel Politz
Non-Active Member
Axel offers services from Germany by coordinating Students to exchange to South Africa. Students who can aide and benefit the Foundation with skills in coaching and mentoring local youth. He is an accomplished musician and also serves as a Town Councillor in his local district.
Youth Camps
Testimonials
Past Events
Statistics
Donations
Donations to ABSA Bank South Africa
Payment details BUSINESS NAME: BEN YOUR FRIEND YOUTH FOUNDATION BANK: ABSA ACCOUNT NUMBER: 41-0068-9229 BRANCH NUMBER: 632005 ABSA SWIFT CODE: ABSAZAJJ TYPE OF ACCOUNT: BUSINESS CHEQUE ACCOUNT